Sri Lankan Navy arrests 11 Tamil Nadu fishermen

In continuing instances of arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan Naval personnel, 11 fishermen fishing in the sea between Katchatheevu and Neduntheevu were arrested on Tuesday.

The fishermen belonged to Kottaipattinam in Pudukottai district, according to Tirunageswaram, joint director of fisheries, Kottaipattinam.

The fishermen were taken to Kankensanthurai port by the navy personnel and produced before a local court, which remanded them to judicial custody.

The fishermen claimed that they were fishing in the traditional area, Tirunageswaram said.

With many instances of Tamil Nadu fishermen being arrested, chief minister Jayalalithaa had last week written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate release of the fishermen.

Jayalalithaa had also renewed her plea for nullifying the "unconstitutional" Indo-Sri Lankan Agreements of 1974 and 1976 and demanded that steps be taken to restore the traditional rights of Indian fishermen.